Most surprising relegations from the EPL!

[msb314]

So it is confirmed!

Stoke City have been relegated following their 1-2 loss to Crystal Palace which ends their 10 year run in the EPL. This one was really surprising for me because of their style of soccer which I thought was good enough to grind out results and no obvious red flags like poor players or financial issues at the club. So I thought I would look at some of the other teams to have been relegated that were a big shock!

1) Newcastle United 2008-09
Newcastle had been EPL contenders for the most part of the 1990's and being UCL regulars during that time and the early 2000's. So it was a shock for me when they were relegated in 2008-09. Although their tea was not as good as it had been in the 1990's - I thought they would still finish mid-table.

3) Blackburn Rovers 2008-09
This was another big surprise for me as Blackburn had finished 8th in the previous season and seemed to be an okay team. I believe they had recently played in the UEFA Cup too in 2005-06 so it felt strange to see them relegated. I believe they are the only EPL champions to have ever been relegated.

3) Portsmouth 2009-10
This one was not as surprising as I believe the club had severe financial issues and entered administration during the 2009-10 season. However, only a year ago, they had been participating in the UEFA Cup and had knocked out AC Milan!

4) Charlton Athletic 2006-07
They seemed like a solid mid-table team but their relegation during the 2006-07 season was strange because only a year ago - they had an amazing season and were in the top 4 for much of the season before fading away towards the end.

5) Aston Villa 2015-16
Aston Villa towards the end of the 2000-2010 decade were serious top 4 contenders and pretty much at the same level at Tottenham. However, since the 2008-09 season - both clubs pretty much moved in opposite directions with a slow and steady decline for Aston Villa - not really sure what went wrong but they were finally relegated in 2016.

6) Bolton Wanderers 2011-12
During the middle part of the 2000-10 decade - Bolton were a club on the rise and played in the UEFA Cup twice during that decade. However, soon they begin a slow and steady decline before finally getting relegated in 2012.

7) Newcastle United 2015-16
After having been relegated in 2008-09 - I would think they would have learnt their lesson but their poor and inconsistent form continued as they struggled to reach the heights of the 1990's. A poor season in 2015-16 saw them relegated again.... I always thought Newcastle were too big to fail but I was wrong.

 

[last_knight]

Leeds Utd, post Fowler.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

None of those were really surprising.

1) Blackburn were not relegated in 2009, dunno where you got that from, they went down around 2013/2014 to nobody's surprise as the Venky's mismanaged the club and hired absolute nobodies as managers.

Portsmouth was, like Leeds, a financial collapse so not surprising. Like Leeds they survived one or two seasons barely before succumbing.

Villa was no surprise either tbh. After O'Neill left the owners didnt really invest and settled for mid table mediocrity which eventually came back to bite them when more ambitious clubs passed them by and the players Villa had had no desire to fight for the shirt. Had survived on the final day the previous 2 seasons IIRC.

Charlton was a classic case of overambition. Curbishley had them as a solid, stable PL club for years, owners got too ambitious, he was pushed out if memory serves me right and they plummeted straight after.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Leeds fall from grace was the biggest shock, a major northern city and a huge club at one time. They never recovered from relegation.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Leeds fall from grace was the biggest shock, a major northern city and a huge club at one time. They never recovered from relegation.

Despite this season petering out horribly Leeds are definitely rising again, PR gaffes like the crest aside.

Stadium repurchased, renewed emphasis on the academy, off the field stability, fan attendance back up to a home average above 30,000 again (under GFH and Bates around 2013 it languished around 23,000 due to their garbage ownership). Leeds have never been better placed to make a return than now, just the squad needs fixing.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Despite this season petering out horribly Leeds are definitely rising again, PR gaffes like the crest aside.

Stadium repurchased, renewed emphasis on the academy, off the field stability, fan attendance back up to a home average above 30,000 again (under GFH and Bates around 2013 it languished around 23,000 due to their garbage ownership). Leeds have never been better placed to make a return than now, just the squad needs fixing.

Would be good to see them back even if their fans are an annoying bunch. Elland Road is a worthy stadium for the premier league.

 

[Markhor]

Nottingham Forest in 93.

 

[msb314]

None of those were really surprising.

1) Blackburn were not relegated in 2009, dunno where you got that from, they went down around 2013/2014 to nobody's surprise as the Venky's mismanaged the club and hired absolute nobodies as managers.

Portsmouth was, like Leeds, a financial collapse so not surprising. Like Leeds they survived one or two seasons barely before succumbing.

Villa was no surprise either tbh. After O'Neill left the owners didnt really invest and settled for mid table mediocrity which eventually came back to bite them when more ambitious clubs passed them by and the players Villa had had no desire to fight for the shirt. Had survived on the final day the previous 2 seasons IIRC.

Charlton was a classic case of overambition. Curbishley had them as a solid, stable PL club for years, owners got too ambitious, he was pushed out if memory serves me right and they plummeted straight after.

Yeah your right - Blackburn were relegated in 2012 along with Bolton that year.

What was the issue with Newcastle getting relegated and then promoted and then relegated again in the span of 7 years?

 

[msb314]

Leeds fall from grace was the biggest shock, a major northern city and a huge club at one time. They never recovered from relegation.

I believe that was a case of a complete financial meltdown and hence I didn’t include it in my list.

Their failure to qualify for the UCL in 2002 meant they were unable to repay their huge debts. They took loans in ai. Riparian of a TV deal for UCL viewing rights which obviously never materialized. They refinanced their entire club and had to sell players like Ferdinand, Bowyer, arrival etc and so performances went further downhill until they were relegated

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Yeah your right - Blackburn were relegated in 2012 along with Bolton that year.

What was the issue with Newcastle getting relegated and then promoted and then relegated again in the span of 7 years?

Mike Ashley being unwilling to really invest particularly large amounts of money and instead trying to turn regular profits, hiring of poor managers (Keegan, Shearer et al) poor transfer market recruitment and so on contributed heavily to both relegations plus the increase in TV money around 2006 meant that, unlike in the past, no club is safe due to size anymore. Need to buy smart or the smaller clubs like Bournemouth, Huddersfield et al can amass superior squads.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

I believe that was a case of a complete financial meltdown and hence I didn’t include it in my list.

Their failure to qualify for the UCL in 2002 meant they were unable to repay their huge debts. They took loans in ai. Riparian of a TV deal for UCL viewing rights which obviously never materialized. They refinanced their entire club and had to sell players like Ferdinand, Bowyer, arrival etc and so performances went further downhill until they were relegated

Pretty much bang on. Ridsdale the owner was an absolute buffoon, bought some absolute garbage players like Seth Johnson on obscene wages, a past it Fowler, Huckerby etc players that werent needed.

Famously had a fishtank in the stadium that cost over a quarter of a million pounds.

Pretty incredible to think had Leeds made the CL that year how different things couldve been.

Alas, we had the joys of consecutive administrations and League 1 to enjoy....